Champions League roundup: Lionel Messi scores hat-trick in Barcelona rout of PSV as Christian Pulisic saves Dortmund

The Argentine superstar opened the scoring with a superb free-kick and struck twice in the second half along with Ousmane Dembele

Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick as Barcelona kick-started their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win at home to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday despite having defender Samuel Umtiti sent off in the second half.

Barca’s all-time top scorer Messi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute at the Nou Camp with an immaculately struck free-kick, curling the ball over the wall and right into the top corner. It was his second free-kick goal in three home games this season.

Coached by former Barca and Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel, PSV had produced an admirable performance in their first visit to the Nou Camp in 21 years until they began to tire late in the second half.

In the first period they successfully shut down most of Barca’s attacks and also plotted several dangerous breaks, which led to Mexico international Hirving Lozano firing narrowly over the bar after the interval.

Lionel Messi celebrates his hat-trick at the Camp Nou (Getty)

The Spanish champions began to demonstrate the gulf in class as the second half progressed and they doubled their lead in the 75th minute through a lovely curling strike from in-form French forward Ousmane Dembele, who scored a fifth goal from sixth games in all competitions this season.

Messi got his second and Barca’s third goal two minutes later, turning Ivan Rakitic’s dinked pass into the near corner with one flick of his boot and then completed his treble in the 87th minute by receiving another chipped pass, this time from Luis Suarez, and ruthlessly smashing home.

The mood was briefly dampened when France defender Umtiti was dismissed in the 79th minute for a second yellow card, ruling him out of Barca’s next Champions League game away to Tottenham Hotspur on 3 October.

Christian Pulisic celebrated his 20th birthday by scoring on his return from injury to give Borussia Dortmund a late 1-0 win at Club Brugge in group A. ”It was great to come back after injury to and to be back with the team,” said Pulisic, who made his 100th appearance for the club.

The American, who hadn’t played since Aug. 26 due to muscular problems, came on with around 20 minutes remaining and scored in the 85th when Matej Mitrovic’s attempted clearance rebounded off his shin and looped in over Brugge goalkeeper Karlo Letica.

“It was a bit lucky but I’ll take it on my birthday,” said Pulisic, who had missed two Bundesliga games for Dortmund and the US friendlies against Brazil and Mexico.

In the other Group A game, Monaco were handed yet another home defeat, losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid. After losing all three home games in the group stage last season, Leonardo Jardim’s side grabbed an early lead against the run of the play with a goal from Champions League debutant Samuel Grandsir. However, Atletico dominated for long spells and struck back before the interval through goals from Diego Costa and Jose Gimenez.

Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann saved one penalty but was beaten by another as Porto salvaged a 1-1 draw in their Champions League-opening game on Tuesday. Galatasaray defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0 at home in the other Group D game. In Germany, Porto keeper Iker Casillas started his 20th Champions League campaign, more than any other player.

Agencies